Waylon Renecke: I'm working hard to earn my chance

F.C. Copenhagen's players returned to training last week after the winter break and are preparing for the return of Danish domestic football this February, as well as European competition.

Three U19 players joined the first-team squad at Number 10, including 18-year-old Waylon Renecke.

Renecke joined FCK last summer and spoke to FCK.dk about his experience in the Danish capital so far.

"It's good to be back after the holidays, and I've really been looking forward to getting started again. It's been great training regularly with the first team so far," he said after Saturday's training.

"It's a great opportunity for me, and I will work hard and do everything I can to achieve my goal of becoming part of the first-team squad here at F.C. Copenhagen.

"I think I've settled in really well, and I've enjoyed every moment since I arrived. Everyone has been very welcoming, both my teammates and the coaches, and that has helped me settle in.

"It was of course a big change to move from England and over here, also because I was living at home with my family, and now I've had to get used to living on my own. But I've found an apartment close to the training ground, so it's been fine."

Renecke has already played in some training matches, which we've streamed in our app and on tv.fck.dk. For those who haven't seen him in action, here's how he describes his style of play.

"I'm a left-footed centre-back, and I can also play left-back, but centre-back is my best position," he said. "I think I'm good with the ball, and I'm good at reading the defensive game and positioning myself correctly. I also like to start attacks from deep with my building game.

"Although the coaches have already known me from the autumn, it's of course important that I show myself as well as possible now and perform well, and seize the chance I've been given to continue my development. I'm not a perfect player yet, but I can learn a lot by training regularly with the first team."

FCK's U19 squad is heading to England and Scotland for their winter training camp but Renecke says he hopes he won't be touring his homeland.

"It will be fun, but my goal is to train with the first team when there is a training camp in La Manga. So even though my family might take a trip to Newcastle and watch me play, they also hope that I will stay around the first team, because that is what I want," he said.

The U19s began their training on Monday, without Renecke, Hunor Vajk Németh and Hjalte Bidstrup, who are training with the first team. The U19s head to England and Scotland on 31 January, while the first team travel to La Manga from 26 January to 5 February.